120
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
at Dwiddleston,) and who has had the education of one.
does not feel himself at home, you know — I'm sure you
have felt the same sort of thing yourself."
"Oh! of course; and I had such a nice walk on tne
common first, and then a turn up and down before the
"Brandon Arms," where at last I read a paper, and could
not resist a glass of brandy and water, and, growing lazy,
came home in a " fly," so I think I have had a very gay
evening."
Larkin smiled benignantly, and would have said some-
thing no doubt worth hearing, but at that moment the
door opened, and his old cook and elderly parlor-maid,
and Sleddon the groom, walked in, with those sad faces
which, I suppose, were first learned in the belief that they
were acceptable to their master.
"Oh !" said Mr. Larkin, in a low, reverential tone,
and the smile vanished; "prayers!"
"Well, then, if you permit me, being a little tired,
I'll go to my bedroom."
And he lighted a bedroom candle and left the room.
"What a beast that fellow is. I don't know why the
d— I stay in his house."
One reason was, perhaps, that it saved him nearly a
guinea a day, and he may have had some other little rea-
sons just then.
'' Family prayers, indeed! and such a pair of women
— witches, by Jove ! — and that rascally groom, and a
hypocritical attorney! And the vulgar brute will be as
rich as Croesus, I dare say."